Arancini or Orancini, candied orange peels, are a traditional dessert of the Dubrovnik area. When made from lemon peel, they are called Limuncini. In the past, they were mostly prepared for holidays and were offered to guests as "candies." Housewives used them as an additional ingredient for cakes.
The Dubrovnik mantala cake is a very delicious, aromatic and generous dessert. It is prepared from cooked must and coarsely ground wheat flour with the addition of sour orange peel, almonds, nutmeg, clove and cinnamon. According to tradition, the recipe is more than 300 years old. It was traditionally served at Christmas and on other holidays.
The production of the Dubrovnik cheese dates back several centuries. According to its composition and quality, this cheese belongs to the group of hard cheeses; due to its unique maturation process, during which the cheese is treated with or soaked in oil to mature, it is also called "oil cheese." Soaking the cheese in oil gives it a sharper and more piquant flavor. It used to be produced from sheep milk of the indigenous Dubrovnik breed known as ruda.
Bruštulani mjenduli (sugared almonds) are a traditional treat that is served on Christmas Eve, Christmas and Easter as a sweet snack, usually with a glass of Prosecco. They are also served on other festive occasions, such as weddings or birthdays, as a treat, or as an integral part of decorative and sweet displays.
Dried figs are a delicious and healthy natural snack with a great nutritional and health value. They are rich in fruit sugar, minerals, vitamins, fiber, beta-carotene, polyphenols, antocianine and plant sterols. Their consumption has a favorable effect on the digestive system and acts to protect the entire organism. They once nourished entire families, but today they are a treat and a cherished souvenir. They are traditionally served with brandy to welcome guests.
Dubrovnik ham is a dry-meat delicacy of supreme quality. It is produced from the best raw materials, the ham of mature and heavy pigs and only with the addition of coarse sea salt. The process of drying and maturation takes place naturally, in the wind, and it takes at least twelve months. This ham is very special due to the local climate in which it is created. Mature Dubrovnik ham has an intense aroma of fermented, mildly smoked dry pork, is pleasantly salty, tasty and has a soft consistency.